Electric-switch lock



E. J. AND C. J. MAPLE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11, 1919.

1 379,.G4EUD Patented May 31 1921,

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

@P/I Fin/41m J My E.

INVENTOR.

BY W-$MW THE/f? A TTORNEYS E. J. AND C. J. MAPLE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. I919.

Patented May 31, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I NI EN THE/I? A TTORNEYS E. J. AND 0. J. MAPLE.

EILECTRIC SWITCH LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. 19KB.

1,379,641r@ 'Patentefi May 3L 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

INVENTOR.

BY @d w a THE/IE A TTORNEY5 EDWARD J. MAPLE AND CYRIL J. MAPLE, 0F GTON, OHIO, ASSIGNUR OF ONE? THIRD T0 FRANK M. STEVENS, 0F ELYRIA, OHIQ.

ELECTRIC-SWITCH LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 19231.

T 0 all whom. it may concern.

Be it known that we, EDWARD J. MAPLE and OYRIL J. MAPLE, both citizens of the United States, residing atGrafton, 1n the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Switch Locks; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. i

This inventon relates to switch locks, and is particularly adapted for use with automobiles, though the invention is not limlted thereto.

By way of example, the invention Wlll be described in connection with an electric system of an automobile. As is well known, automobiles require an ignition current for the engine, and by controlling such current, the unauthorized starting of the car can be prevented. It is the object of this lnvention to provide a combination lock that Will prevent the closing of the ignition circuit until the lock handle has been moved back and forth in accordance with a predetermined combination, which may be chosen by the user of the automobile, by proper adjustment of the lock parts.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective diagrammatlc View of the lock with the main switch omitted for simplification.

Fig. 2 is a view showing all' the circuit connections and the end disk.

Fig. 3 is a top view ofthe switch lock.

Fig. 4 is a side-view of the supporting members for the disks.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the m'ember'shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the lock may be arranged in a suitable box, such as 1, and contains a rotatable shaft 2, adapted to operate the lock parts by means of a hand knob 3. A plurality of supporting members 4, having bushings 5, are spaced in the box 1 in any desired manner. The bushings 5 receive the shaft 2, which freely turns therein, and they also act as bearings for the disks 6, 7, and 8.

The shaft 2 is provided with a plurality of (in this instance, four) small disks 9, 10, 11 and 12, which are secured to the axle, so as to rotate therewith. The disks 6, 7 and 8 vhave ratchet bars or detents 13, 14 and 15, respectively, which are spring-pressed against the small disks by means of springs, such as 16.

The disk 9 has a notch 17 adapted to engage the detent l3 and move the disk 9 when the knob 3 is rotated counter-clockwise, as shown in Fig. 1. When the knob is rotated in the reverse direction, the disk 9 will slide freely under detent 13 and not operate the disk.

Disks 10 and 11 each have two catches or notches 18, 19 and 20, 21, adapted to enga e the detents l4 and 15, respectively. s shown clearly in Fig. 1, either the notch 18 or 19 will engage the detent 14 when the disk 10 is rotated clockwise and thus move the large disk 7 in the same direction. However, when the small disk 10 rotates counter clockwise the disk 7 will not be moved. On the other hand, the notches 20, 21 of disk 11 will engage the detent 15 to operate the disk 8 only when it is moved in a counter-clockwise direction.

The end disk 12 hasa notch 22 that is adapted to receive the end of a detent 23 secured to a bar 24. The bar 24 is pivoted at one end at 25, and at the other end it has a notch 26, adapted to set against the end of a switch arm 27. The lever arm 24 also has means, such as a block of insulation 28, which is adapted to bear against an auxiliary switch arm 39 carrying a contact adapted to engage another contact on the arm 30.

The switch arm 27 has an armature 31 adapted to be acted-on by an electromagnet 32, which receives its energizing current through the switch arms 29 and 30. The switch arm 27 has a contact 33 adapted to engage a contact 34 on a spring switch arm 35 whenever the magnet 32 is energized. The arm 27 preferably has an insulated tip 36 to revent possible grounds.

pring 37 tends to pull arm 27 away from the contact of arm 35, and similarly, a spring 38 tends to keep the contacts on the switch arms 29 and 30 in a separated condition.

As will be noted in Fig. 1, the large disk 6 has a peripheral ring 39 secured to it by appropriate screws 40, so that 1t may be adjusted ciroumferentially on the d sk to provide for changing the combination of the lock. Thering 39 has a flattened portion 41 for a purpose to be referred to later, The disk 7 has a ring 42 secured to 1t by means of screws 40, so that it may be ad usted c1rcumferentially to give different combinations. This ring 42 has two flattened portions, 43 and 44. The disk 8 has flattened portions 45 and 46, but inasmuch as these flattened portions are, in the embodiment shown, in definite positions in respect to the notch 22 in the end disk 12, no ad usting ring is provided.

Above the disks 6, 7 and 8 1s pivoted a switch bar 47 having three arms 48, 49 and 50 adapted to bear on the periphery of the disks. The switch arm 47 has a contact that is adapted to engage the switch member 51 arranged in the circuit of the magnetic coil 32. v

Having described the varlous parts of the switch lock, the operation will now be described.

The operator will grasp the knob handle 3 and rotate it counter-clockwise to the given number of the combination, a numerical scale being indicated on the dial 52. During this movement the abutment 1.7 will engage the detent 13, and rotate disk 6 until flat portion 41 is under arm 48. During this movement the abutment 20 of small disk 11 will engage the detent 15 and rotate the disk 8. However, this will not bring the flat portion 45 or 46 under the lever arm 50.

The operator will then rotate the knob 3 clockwise until the second number of the combination is reached. During this movement either abutment 18 or 19 will engage the detent 14 and place either the flat por tion 43 or the flat portion 44 under the arm 49. This latter movement of the knob 3 did not move disk 6 previously set into the desired position, as clockwise rotation will cause the abutment 17 to slide idly under the detent 13.

Now that two of the disks have been set, the operator will rotate the knob 3 in a counter-clockwise direction, until the pointer reaches the third number of the combination. This movement causes either one or the other of abutments 20 and 21 to engage detent 15 and move the disk 8 until either fiat portion 45 or 46 is immediately under the arm 50. During this last movement both disks 6 and 7 remain stationary and lined up as previously set. Disk 6 is not moved by the counter-clockwise rotation, as either the notch 20 or 21 is engaged to rot-ate the respective fiat portion of disk 8 into position before abutment 17 can engage detent 13. Disk 7 is not rotated during the movement referred to because counter-clockwise rotation causes the abutments 18 and 19 to slide idly under the detent 14. The uppercflat portions on all three disks are now in alinement, and spring 53 raises the switch arm 47 upwardly, since the arms 48, 49 and 50 are permitted to lower on account of the flat portions on the disks being in the proper pos tion. The raising of switch arm 47 closes contact with switch member 51 and a circuit is closed through the coil of magnet 32. The circuit connections will be readily understood'upon inspection of F igs. 1 and 2, and they need not be traced in detail. When magnet 32 becomes energized, switch lever 27 is pulled over to the left (in Fig. 2) and contact 33 engages contact 34, which closes the circuit between wires 54 and 55 leading to the engine ignition system, or the starter motor, or both, depending upon how the invention is applied to the auto-mobile.

When the lever 27 was'pulled over to the left in Fig. 2, the end 36 was ulled out from notch 26 in lever arm 24, an is accordingly dropped downwardly until switch arms 29 and 30 are separated through the tension of spring 38- The lowering of the arm 24 is permitted, on account of the notch 22 in disk 12' being immediately under the end of detent 23, which is joined to the arm 24. The separating of the switch arms 29 and 30 opens the circuit ofthe magnet, which was closed by the contact of switch arm 47 with contact 51. Therefore, current is taken,

from the battery only for an instant after the combination is set for starting the en me.

Tn order to prevent the lever 24 binding against the end oflever 27, and thus increasing the work of the magnet, it is desirable to have the flat portion on the disks arranged in such position as to close the circuit of magnet 32, just a short time beforethe last movement of the knob 3 is completed. By arranging the parts in this way, the magnetic circuit will be closed while the tip at the end of lever arm 23 still engages the circumference of disk 12. A slight further movement brings the notch 22 into position, with the result previously described.

It will be noted that even though magnet 32 is deenergized, almost instantly after its circuit is closed, nevertheless, main switch contacts 33 and 34 are not separated. This is due to the fact that the end of lever arm 24 drops behind the end of arm 27 and prevents the switch from opening.

The notch 22 at the left side makes gradual junction with the circumference of disk 12, so that the rotation of disk 12 in this direction is permitted. To open the circuit of the en ine, knob 3 is given a turn to the right. T is causes disk 12 to raise lever asraeeo arm 24, and one of the disks 6, 7 or 8 to lower the switch arm 47. The arm 24 being out of the way, switch arm 27 is pulled back until it rests in the notch 26 under tension of spring 37. At this time switch arms 29 and 30 are in engagement, but the circuit through magnet 32 is broken at switch contact 51 and the automobile circuit cannot be again closed without going through the complete combination again.

In the embodiment shown, the disks 6, 7 and 8 are rotated only through the engagement of the respective abutments with the disk detents. At all other times the friction of the members 4 with their bushings 5 hold the disk in place.

The various parts of the switch lock, such as the disks, the rings thereon, the lever arms engaging the flat portions of the rings and disk, may be made of any desired material, as they form no part of the electrical circuit. However, it is preferable to have some or all of these parts of insulating material, so that the battery circuit will not be closed, even though there should be a defect in the insulation circuit at one point.

It should be understood that various modifications may be made in our improved switch lock1 without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In switch locks, a main switch, a magnet for operating said main switch, an auxiliary switch in the circuit of said magnet a disk having a notch, an arm associated with said auxiliary switch adapted to enter said notch, and means on said main switch adapted to prevent the said arm entering the notch in the open position of the main Switch.

2. In switch locks, a main switch, a magnet for operating said main switch, an auxiliary switch in the circuit of said magnet, a disk having a notch, an arm associated with said auxiliary switch adapted to enter said notch, means on said main switch adapted to prevent the said arm entering the notch in the open position of the main switch, and means for rotating said disk.

3. In switch locks, a main switch, a magnet for operating said main switch, an auxiliary switch in the circuit of said magnet, a disk having a notch, an arm associated with said auxiliary switch adapted to enter said notch, means associated with said main switch adapted to hold the auxiliary switch closed in the open position of the main switch, and a second arm associated with the auxiliary switch adapted to hold the main switch closed when the first arm enters said notch.

4. In switch locks, a main switch, a magnet for operating sald main switch, an auxiliary switch in the circuit of said magnet, a

second auxiliary switch in the said circuit, means for closing said second auxiliary switch, and means whereby the first auxiliary switch is opened as soon as the magnet operates said main switch.

5. In switch locks, a main switch, a magnet for operating said main switch, an auxiliary switch in the circuit of said magnet, a second auxiliary switch in the said circuit, means for closing said second auxiliary switch, and means whereby the first auxiliary switch is opened as soon as the magnet operates said main switch, said last mentioned means also being adapted to hold the main switch closed.

6. In a switch look, a main switch, a magnet for operating said main switch, an auxiliary switch in the circuit of said magnet, means on the main switch for holding the auxiliary switch closed when the main switch is open, and means on the auxiliary switch for holding the main switch closed when the auxiliary switch is open.

7. In a switch lock, a main switch, a magnet for operating said main switch, an auxiliary switch in the circuit of said magnet, a second auxiliary switch in said circuit, a rotatable disk having means for closing one of said auxiliary switches and a second disk having means for permitting the opening of 95 the other auxiliary switch at substantially the same time the first auxiliary switch is closed.

8. In a switch lock, a main switch, a magnet for operating said switch, a plurality of rotatable disks, means for selectively rotating said disks, and means associated with said disks for closing the circuit of said magnet when the disks are in predetermined positions and for opening the circuit again as soon as the magnet has operated the main switch.

9. In a switch lock, a main switch, a magnet for operating said main switch,'a plurality of rotatable disks, an auxiliary switch in the circuit of said magnet, means for closing said switch when the disks are in predetermined positions, a second auxiliary switch in said circuit and means for opening the second auxiliary switch when the main switch is operated and the disks are substantially in said predetermined positions.

10. In a Switch lock, a main switch, a magnet for operating said} main switch, a plurality of independent rotatable disks, each having a depression, an auxiliary switch in the circuit of said magnet and having arms engaging the periphery of said disks, an additional disk having a depression, and a second auxiliary switch in said circuit having an arm engaging the periphcry of said additional disk.

11. In a switch lock, a main switch, a magnet for operating said main switch, a plurality of independent rotatable disks,

each having a depression, an auxiliarydisks, an additional disk having a depres-- sion, a second auxiliary Switch in said circuit havingan arm engaging the periphery of said additional disk, and means on said second auxiliary switch to hold said main switch closed when the second auxiliary switch is opened.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names this, 6 day of October,

EDWARD J. MAPLE.

CYRIL J. MAPLE. 

